Wednesday, July 26, 2023

Behind That Curtain by Earl Derr Biggers, 1928

 

This is Charlie Chan #3 (of 6).

Honolulu detective Charlie Chan in is San Fransisco when he encounters a number of mysteries:

1. Unsolved murder of Hilary Galt 16 years ago
2. Disappearance of Eve Durand from India
3. Murder of Sir Frederic Burke, former CID
4. Repeated theft of a pair of Chinese slippers
5. Disappearance of Marie Lantelme from Nice
6. Disappearance of Jennie Jerome from New York City

These events are all seem slightly connected. Charlie Chan sets up his HQ in the penthouse of real estate magnate Barry Kirk, and enlists the aid of deputy District Attorney June Morrow. The suspect pool includes world explorer John Beetham and a number of high society ladies.

The mystery is hindered by cringe-worthy sexism throughout, with various statements, including by Chan, about women being inferior and incapable of higher thought processes; despite a woman being cast as the deputy D.A. This also includes statements by Chan about his disappointment in four of his eleven children being girls. These aspects lower my rating to two stars. Other than that, the mystery itself is pretty good.

No comments:

Post a Comment